O'FALLON, Mo — O'FALLON, Mo - O'Fallon, Missouri is one of the many communities that have banned the use of fireworks, but enforcing that gets a lot more complicated, especially along the city-St. Charles County line.
The Wurm family lives on the edge, and not just in their choice of pyrotechnics.
They actually live on the edge of a little island of unincorporated county land, that makes it legal to shoot fireworks.
On Plackemeier Drive, legally shooting off your own "rockets red glare"all depends on where.
"The people across the street are city, I think the people next door are county, so yea, it’s hit and miss," says Rhonda Wurm.
The zoning map almost looks like a puzzle. The determination between city and county depends on each plot of land.
"Down here it gets confusing," says Wurm.
So confusing, Wurm says some of their neighbors may use that to their advantage.
"There are a few that also shoot them off on this street. I don’t know if they’re county," she says.
She says, the road used to all be unincorporated county land, until the 1950s, when the City of O'Fallon offered a deal - we'll put in a sewer line if you join the city.
The Wurms were lucky. Their land already had sewer lines.
"We really like being in the county," says Wurm.
They especially like it this time of year.
"A time to get everyone together, the kids, the grandkids and have a good time," she says.
Avoiding the crowds, directing your own show. Those are just some of the perks of living on the edge.
"The kids just love it, and we love watching them and their reactions," says Wurms.
If someone with the City of O'Fallon catches you in the act, you can face up to a $500 fine.
That includes possessing, selling and especially shooting fireworks.
In St. Charles County, you have to be over the age of 15, can only shoot them between July 2-5 and they have to wrap up by 11 p.m. each night.
